‘Cyprus.’ [‎81r] (161/184)

TRADE AND REVENUE.
155
Turks, although, perhaps, different and more appropriate taxes might
have yielded a larger revenue without hearing so heavily upon the
inhabitants. Over-taxation has kept down the population, and is
responsible, in combination with extortion and corruption, for the
decay and ruin which is everywhere apparent. ^ It is generally be
lieved that the Turkish government collected in Cyprus an annual
revenue of about £400,000, of which sum not more than £30,000
was expended in the island in salaries, maintenance of establish
ments, and so forth. The number of the taxes is legion; there are
tithes upon every article of produce, some of which have already
been shown to be excessive, besides being levied in a manner par
ticularly injurious to the farmer; of all live stock 13 per cent, aie
taken by the tax collector; a custom duty of 8 per cent, ad valo? cm
is charged upon all exports, and 1 per cent, upon all imports; there
is a land tax upon all land let at a yearly rental; an exemption tax
from military service which is exacted from all Christians ; excise
duties which comprise taxes upon all sales (2| to 5 per cent.),
transfers, and leases of property, real and personal; a stamp tax ;
a tax upon the slaughter of cattle; the monopoly of weighing and
measuring, and numberless other small exactions which weigh upon
an impoverished peasantry. , ,
Herr Yon Ldher, during his visit to Cyprus, endeavoured to ob
tain some information regarding the revenue. He found great diffi
culty in getting exact figures, but he gives the following table as
an approximate estimate wdiich is probably very near the truth.
Consul, was in a position to get as good information as iu was pos
sible to obtain. 1 .
He divides the revenues under three heads, viz.:
1. Revenues resulting from the administration of property be
longing exclusively to the State.
2. A royalty upon the produce of all lands.
3. Taxes, direct and indirect.
The general budget of receipts may be estimated as follows:
Piastre*.
Tithes upon all income
Tithes upon land
Percentage of products
Military taxes upon Christians
Poll tax upon live stock
Weighing taxes upon sales ....
Customs upon salt
Customs upon wines ....
Customs upon exported silk ....
Customs upon exported fish ....
7,(XX),OOO
400.000
5.000. 000
550.000
700.000
300.000
1,500,(XX)
1 . 000 . 000
200.000
20,000
Total 16,670,000